I scoff. What a fucked up response when he’s the one to send me to her. I don’t need his admiration or whatever bullshit of remorse he’s feeling. He’s the one who’s willing to be complacent with King Euron, gods know why.
I stare out to the landscape that’s swallowed the sky. Leaves sway, molted and damaged, on the barren fruit trees.
Finally outside in the crisp morning air, a reprieve from the stuffy dungeon, I can’t help but notice clouds forming, dark and promising an offering of their shed tears. I’ve always pondered what would make the heavens cry so swiftly in this region.
I feel the first drop of rain land on my cheek. I had hoped for escape, for The Hidden to find me, but that isn’t happening, it feels as if it won’t either.
The skies aren’t gentle with their kisses, they’d prefer to wail and weep with the soft pattering that builds along with the wind.
I finally turn toward The Devourer, my eyes locked on him in defeat.
His face cracks slightly, catching me off guard. “I wish you’d see this is more merciful, for that I won’t apologize.”
Ice fills my body and my mouth slacks. His green irises are focused on mine, a shadowed look on his face.
“You bastard,” I whisper, holding my breath after the insult, my chest threatening to cave in with his confession.
Twisting to get away, I put as much space as I can between The Devourer and me. He speaks in riddles and half measures. It’s maddening. He isn’t what I expected with our brief interactions but we still manage to be at war with each other nonetheless.
Rune is standing near a horse drawn cart, while a dapple gray horse stands, marbled with black and white, rigged and ready.
His warm brown eyes dance between the two of us, his jaw tensed and mouth set in a tight line. He glances from where I walk towards him to the man behind me and holds his gaze. His expression is unreadable but has a haunted look.
He’s heard every word between us, he was certainly close enough to do so, and by the way he stays silent, looking expectantly at his companion, I can’t help but be curious by his demeanor.
I walk past the man and move towards the back of the cart and climb up inside. I don’t have the energy to fight this any longer, so I settle on the wooden bench and let the crisp, cooling air wrap around me.
“He’s coming.” The Devourer’s voice is sharp, a slight lilt in the statement I hadn’t noticed before.
I peer over my shoulder and see that Rune and him are sharing the same severe look.
Odd.
Rune shakes his head, sandy blonde hair , in the process.
Whereas The Devourer and Nightmare are hard and intense, Rune seems more gentle. It’s disarming, but I’ve learned to not underestimate those that appear unassuming. I haven’t seen much of The Nightmare, thank the goddess, but Rune, who is rarely seen by the citizens of Noxia, appears completely different even though he wears the same garb as his companions. Heclimbs up to the seat behind the horse and I center my gaze on the silver stitching of his ebony vest.
With a slap of the reins, the horse jolts forward. The limbs of the trees twist and sway in the gentle breeze, as if bidding me farewell.
Hoof clopping behind me breaks the nervous tension in the air. Turning to see who would be flanking us, disbelief has my jaw dropping.
“You fucker.” My body is twisting to fully face the rider. “You have some nerve, Devourer. That’smyhorse.”
My mare’s face is level with mine, her hot breath blowing over my face, sending wisps of my hair billowing with each exhale.
“Rune, what seems to be delaying us?”
The man looks from me to the Devourer. “Well, she… I don’t know. One minute she’s silent as a priestess and the next yapping at you.”
The Devourer’s brow quirks at me as well. Apparently I have that effect on these men.
He looks down on me, expression unreadable.
“Do you like Dahla?” Imaginary daggers fling through the space between us. “She was mine as a young girl. How unfortunate your ass has graced her presence.”
Her gentle brown eyes are still laid on me. A twisting sensation in my gut has me quick to ask the Devourer, “You won’t hurt her, will you?”
His eyes turn more fierce with my sudden shift in tone. “Never.”
